SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PURIFICATION RITE FOR CHILDBIRTH

period of uncleanness
1. any fluid that leaked from the body caused one to be ceremonially unclean
2. the mother was unclean for seven days after the birth of a son (cf. Lev. 12:2)
3. the mother was unclean for fourteen days after the birth of a daughter (cf. Lev. 12:5)
4. she remains unclean for forty days for a son (cf. Lev. 12:3-4) and eighty for a daughter (cf. Lev. 12:6)
5. this ceremonial uncleanness is compared to the monthly menstrual cycle
rite of purification
1. after a waiting period the mother comes to the tabernacle and brings an offering of
  (1) a one year old lamb for a burnt offering (cf. Lev. 12:6)
  (2) a young pigeon or turtledove for a sin offering (cf. Lev. 12:6)
  (3) if the person is poor, then two pigeons or turtle doves are acceptable (cf. Lev. 12:8)
2. these procedures result in a ceremonial cleansing